A Witch's Fury (12 page)

I grunted a reply, turning back to my drink.
Asking that Master, Vampire, asshole for help with a first blood
rage incubus was clearly not one of my better moments of judgment.
Like Tate, he controlled a large House in St Ann. I had reached out
for assistance when an incubus had accidentally drawn first blood
at Kitten.

He left his date and slid next to my free
side, his designer suit pressing against my forearm resting on the
bar. Gently, he trailed his perfectly manicured fingers over my
wrist.

“I’ve heard rumors of your…” He paused,
looking for the correct word, finally deciding on, “…bedroom
savvy,” his eyes aglow with the trademark amber of a vampire either
aroused or pissed off. I was betting on the first.

I raised an eyebrow. Blake was fucking
telling stories of our lovemaking?

“Perhaps you would be so kind as to give a
few lessons.”

I groaned. This was such a mistake coming
here.

“Fuck off, Morgan.”

His gentle caress turned into a painful grab.
Behind me I heard Kass yell for Darren. I didn’t need help, I was a
fucking succubus able to control and manipulate emotions. Granted,
I couldn’t push unwanted emotions, but I sure could help what was
already there.

“Careful. I have the advantage here.” Morgan
hissed.

I thought about pumping him full of fear, but
that didn’t feel right. Anger, though, now that I could use. I let
the heated emotions swarm our contact. Blind, furious anger, a fury
of hatred ran through my veins, merging with Morgan’s skin.

Fear flashed once in those brilliant green
depths and he tried to break the contact. I didn’t let him,
clamping my hand over his. I wasn’t fucking done. Let the asshole
try to contain all of this anger and not get himself into
trouble.

“Olivia,” Darren said softly behind me.

“Don’t touch her,” Kass warned.

“Olivia,” he tried again.

A warm hand rested on my bare shoulder,
squeezing gently before the voice commanded, “Release him.”

I did. Morgan nodded to Logan before rubbing
his wrist, then plastering on a fake smile as he went back to his
date.

I didn’t turn to either of them. “He deserved
it. You should have heeded Kass’s warning, Logan. What I was
pushing into him would affect you as well.”

Logan shrugged, apparently unaffected, or at
least doing a better job of controlling it than Morgan.

“They are all going to be after you tonight,”
Darren informed me, his eyes sweeping the area for threats.

“Because I’m such a great fuck?” I drained my
wine, waving the empty glass at the bartender for more.

Darren moved into my personal space, and he
was fucking lucky he was married to my friend. “This is not a wise
decision,” I informed him, whispering softly so others wouldn’t
overhear us.

Logan gave a short chuckle. “You are going to
want to hear this, actually.

“Blake is claiming you ruined him for other
women. That’s why he hasn’t been able to perform his usual duties
leading up to the wedding.”

I’m pretty sure my mouth hung open in
shock.

Logan leaned in, whispering against my ear,
“It’s also a matter of speculation whether he will be able to close
the deal tonight.”

“That’s insane,” I hissed back. “I’ve slept
with lots and lots of humans as well as Supernaturals, and no one
has ever claimed I ruined them.”

Logan shrugged, a coy smile playing on his
lips. “He also gave that as the reason he accosted you in the tech
lab.”

I groaned, resting my head against the bar.
“Please tell me there is no video of that.”

Darren patted my back gently. “You looked
great in it.”

“Darren,” Kass whispered with reprimand,
looking around us.

Fucking Jerry was right on the money with his
assessment of why I was invited.

“There is even a bet if Angelina will invite
you into the marriage bed tonight. As you know, the blood exchange
and sex seal the deal between the two Houses.”

I groaned, “I’m aware. Let’s just hope my
influence has worn off.”

Kass cleared her throat before leaning
forward. “How long ago was the video?”

I chewed on my thumb thoughtfully. “When was
I chaperoning Darren?”

A look of confusion crossed Kass’s face. “You
slept with him that same day?”

I nodded, draining my wine glass again,
opting for beer this time—well, if this fancy ass establishment had
any.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What was there to say? Yes, I slept with
Blake. No, he doesn’t want me back, claimed it was a mistake.
That’s nothing I care to repeat.”

“Your emotional ties should be cut at least,
that was about a month ago,” Kass reminded me.

“I almost wish he could feel me now.” I
hushed myself, sealing my emotions behind solid walls, pushing my
shoulders back.

Clearing my throat, I turned in my seat,
which I was certain was real leather, as Grams and Jerry made their
way over. I lifted my beer in a toast before draining half of
it.

…

“I can’t believe I’m actually here,” I
muttered to myself, leaning against a thick white Roman column,
hiding. I’m not proud of it, but being at Blake’s wedding, alone,
sucked. I struggled through the ceremony, the shitty comments and
sly looks, but now, as the last dance was slowly approaching, I was
ready to leave.

I blew out a breath and ruffled my newly cut
bangs, which settled at an angle just below my eyebrow. The soft
curls framed my face, but even that wasn’t enough to get Blake
back, nothing was.

“How’s it going Olie?” Kass asked, slipping
next to me.

I groaned, holding out my empty champagne
glass.

“Yeah, about the same here,” she confided.
“At least you can drink.”

“True,” I agreed, my eyes locked onto the
happy bride and groom.

Blake was devastating in his tux, easily
leading his bride and mate around the dance floor. I tried to crush
the sorrow swelling inside of me, but it didn’t work. The best I
could hope for was that it didn’t seep past my barriers. It
wouldn’t, but a small part of me wished it would. It had been weeks
since I slept with him and I knew he couldn’t feel me anymore, but
I wanted him to. I wanted him to know the depth of my pain and
devastation.

Lorraine drunkenly staggered next to us and I
closed my eyes, willing myself not to kill her.

“So,” she slurred, already testing my
patience, “do you ever wonder what is so wrong with you that no one
wants to marry you?”

Logan and Darren appeared then. Logan pulled
Lorraine behind him. I just smiled, my eyes riveted to Blake.

“No Lorraine, I don’t wonder. I know what’s
wrong with me.” Demon whore, that’s all I would ever be.

“Aren’t you supposed to be planning my
wedding?” Lorraine drawled, coming out from behind Logan.

The bitch had a point.

…

The bride and groom were sent off and I hid
in the shadows, not that it was really hiding. With vampires’
sight, they could all see me.

Kass wrapped her shawl around her shoulders
with a heavy sigh, leaning against me. “I have to go pick up a
forgotten ear piece in the groom’s room, then we can head out.”

“I’ll get it. Go with Grams and get off your
feet.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

I nodded, turning back to the huge expanse of
wedding venue.

After three wrong turns and finally being
escorted by the caterer, I found the groom’s room. Without thought,
I opened the door, casting a look around at the discarded clothing,
hangers, and tux bags.

“If I were an ear piece, where would I be?” I
muttered, looking around.

“What did you—“ Blake’s voice died as he came
around the corner. I backed up, terrified.

“What the fuck are you doing in here?” I all
but screamed at him.

“Shh,” he coaxed, closing the distance
between us.

“Don’t fucking shush me.” I was furious at
him. Furious he left me, furious he seduced me, blamed me, and
taped me. All the fury was covering up a swell of pain I was having
a hard time keeping within my shields.

“You told everyone I—“ My angry outburst was
stopped cold when his lips caressed mine.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered against my
overheated ear, “and your blood.”

“No,” I whimpered, pushing away from him. The
blood of succubi held power for vampires, a natural aphrodisiac
that he apparently thought he would need to seal the deal with
Angelina.

He didn’t let me get far, wrapping his arms
around my hips from behind me. Instinct had me tipping my head up
as he sank his fangs into my neck.

I exhaled in a heated rush. “No,” I whispered
again, trying to break free. Damn my traitorous body, damn him for
knowing exactly how to seduce me.

“Let me go, please,” I begged, unable to move
myself.

“Let her go,” growled Logan, standing
outlined in the doorframe, hands fisted at his sides.

Blake released me and I ran into Logan’s
arms, trembling. Not my finest moment.

“That’s all I was after, bro. Have fun with
her.”

I heard the door close behind him. I couldn’t
look Logan in the eyes.

He pulled away and I took the hint, pulling
back to wrap my arms around myself, pretending I wasn’t so fucking
weak-willed that I would have given in to Blake again in the feeble
hope he’d take me back on his wedding day. What the fuck is wrong
with me?

“Nothing,” Logan answered, tilting my chin
up, looking at the bite mark on my neck.

“I didn’t mean to say that aloud. He didn’t
heal the bite, did he?”

Logan shook his head, his caramel eyes
darkening with his lion. It was the ultimate disrespect.

I squeezed my eyes closed against the wash of
self-hatred and hot tears threatening to thread down my cheeks.

With a hiss I dug my fingernails into my
palms.

“Enough, Olie.” Logan’s voice was soft as he
pulled me into his arms.

“I don’t want your pity,” I grumbled at him,
my voice muffled by his crisp shirt.

“Will you take my compassion?”

I grunted a noncommittal reply.

Once I had control again, I pulled back,
looking into those raw sienna depths. “I came in here looking for a
missing earbud.”

Logan smiled, turning me toward the exit.
“And I came in here to tell you I have it.”

“I’m glad you showed up,” I sighed. “But I
won’t admit that to anyone.”

He chuckled, slipping an arm around my
shoulder. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Chapter 10

It
was a week later. A boring week later and I couldn’t help but feel
this was the calm before the storm. The zombies still hadn’t made
an appearance, and it was worrying both Jerry and me.

Grams had reached out to the necromancer
community, but they didn’t want our help locating their missing
member. Assholes.

So here I was sitting at Kass’s, watching
some kids’ TV program and playing with Hannah.

“Logan is coming over for dinner tonight,”
Kass informed me, turning off the TV.

“Is that a hint I need to get gone?” I asked,
dressing a doll in an evening gown for Hannah.

“No, it’s more of a warning. What’s going on
between you two?”

I groaned, “Shit if I know.”

“The blind hatred seems to be dulling, at
least on his end.”

“I never hated him. I hate his choice in life
partners.”

Kass laughed, “Don’t we all.”

“She’s a hussy,” Hannah added.

“Agreed,” I laughed.

“I heard things were hot and heavy with your
last undercover assignment in the strip club,” Darren hinted,
coming in from the garage and picking up a squealing Hannah. Damn
shifter hearing.

I shrugged. The kiss had been intense,
complete with roaming hands and a raging hard-on. “I’d like to put
that in a pile of things I don’t plan on talking about.”

Darren laughed. “Like how we don’t talk about
your ability to do magic?”

“Exactly, I don’t do magic and Logan and I
hate each other. End of story.”

Darren laughed, kissing Kass before heading
down the hallway.

Kass raised an eyebrow at me as I went to
start washing lettuce.

“Not dealing with it.”

“I heard you the first time.”

…

The doorbell announced Logan’s arrival.

Kass and I were setting the table when a
freshly washed Hannah screeched down the hall, “I’LL GET IT!”

Darren followed her out, his dress shirt
sleeves rolled up as he watched his daughter let his brother
in.

“Did you bring the hussy?” Hannah asked, all
business.

“I did not,” replied Logan.

Hannah moved aside. “You may enter.”

I laughed, “Nice work, kid.”

Hannah high fived me before wrapping herself
around Kass’ legs.

“You teach her that?” Logan asked, sitting
down heavily.

“Nope, you can‘t teach good taste.”

He grunted a reply.

“Grams get in touch with you about
arbitration tomorrow?”

I groaned, sitting next to him. “I’ll be
there with bells on.”

“I wanna wear bells!” Hannah screeched,
jumping up and down in her seat.

“Did you feed her sugar?” Kass accused
me.

“Sugar, what is this substance you speak
of?”

“Yeah she did!” Hannah ratted on me.

“You are cut off,” I informed her.

…

Dishes were done, leftovers stashed, and a
finally-sleepy Hannah tucked into bed as Logan and I walked
outside.

I inhaled the crisp night air, feeling the
cool breeze against my skin.

Logan stopped next to my driver’s door.
“What?” I asked, looking around for trouble.

He sighed, running a hand through his
lengthening locks. “You’re vulnerable.”

“Fuck you.”

He shook his head with an easy smile. “Your
emotional state.”

“I’m unbalanced.”

He actually laughed at that, it looked good
on him. “Right, but the other shifters tomorrow are going to sense
the change in you. They are going to want to help.”